Vehicle direction and movement signaling device



R G. M LEOD Aug. 23, 1932.

VEHICLE DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Fiab. 13. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet l llll L On 6 0M 5 a w nu M Wm R 3 SheetsSheet 2 W w. wx mw wx w. x @w lll lln:

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Aug. 23, 1932.

R. G. M LEOD VEHICLE DIRECTION AND MOVEMENT SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 15, 1930 VEHICLE DIRECiION AND MOVEMENT SIGNALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Roderick GNcLeod Patented Aug- 1932' r 301923101: GEGR'GE' mchaxon; 01* L'QN'DQN; ENGLAND #:5111011: niescmiv' AND *fiovi livifinm iGNALING DEVIGE of any ehe s'i'tu ited at thei fi'eht Tear "Of the- Vehiele, a i ld when not in use will not obstlfilet the View of the driver of the Veh1c e. It is 19 Construction Whieh is simple to operate efil cheap to manufeeture;

A-ecordihg': to the prima ry ie preser'it invehtioiy there is pfbtide ixig device "comprising e; pi mm'y e' tors adapted to be remtede ouw 101?" cetofs hate independent;'e'pereting which afe'nested together 130' turn abanfn 29 common axis; j Ihll's' it x'vin be see; that ver eoni'pa'ct rrangement effthe o erstisg tioh of the dr iir'ers View.

some that die bf its feces i s"s;1f13;11 ma the othe'i' comp aratijvely lzirge. That is te's t'y,the' indicators, are thinso thatwhehthey a're he the'if horizontal imp rative: p sitib'h they,

will hot obstructthe 'dl'jvers' ew.

The imitators may t ldcated ih positions but in tlhe pfeterred feeffstfueti njf they are lec'atedfat the same fsideb'fth Vehicle and there may be any boiivehieht fifilnh'er 'df inchc'ators me set.

. ape h'ot in use. Ferthispurpdse it is s feejtuf axis from a ho iz nml miapfatfie 'pesitioh mto a vertieal epe'fatlve pos t10n, which 1ffd taieirebruary 18,

bend side bf thezume" flitr olling the in- Chester fer ihoveinentste the left. This; ill r'endefit easy for the d iverto give the. rep er i'ndieatiens. v I a I F01 night driving it is desirable that the 3g indiceters shall be illuminated, but as dnring the greater pe t of -the time that the Vehi e is travelling the indieaters Willbe in 9 tive' "t is desirable to have meahs fOiJSWitchg 111g "6E the 'illuthiiletion Whefi the iindjcetefs stems to control the el'eet'ricfswltches lights in the iniiicatoi s.

Fe-reemi letehhdefstii 11g 'o'ft at and other features of the i llvlltllOfli, there W11} no}? befdescribed, my v 1": example ehly, aid with i'eielfez lee tethe aeeefiipeny; ingiclfaivings, eertail1benstrfi i e'nl'l fcinihs (if signaling device; ace-circling" t e theifi ve'ntieh. 71'? It ac 'be ilzlfdei'ste ed, however, that the in ventipn is newest-laced te the precise cens'tii'l'etijonal details set 'fo'fth,

In these drawings v 1. Figure I is e11-ele'v zltieiil i l'ohgitu'di'niil 73 sectieh of ehe'fformpf signaling device facce'fiding Tt-Q th'G iiiventien Figure 2 is'aseeti'en re Fig re 3 Fi'giife 1; v Fi ure 4 Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plerspective vi ew oi "the 6011- en the line 5f is a section en 'li ii'e 'i s e-se'ct ien elfthe line 4- 416? Iti's afeatiireef'the'inventiefi-to e sti fg t l'e'n Shawn. in Figures 1 'te 4.; V s51 the'ste'ms to reach toa'position zidji'eh the Figtir'e Gis an elevation, partly in see drivers seet and to have oritrel arms for tion, Of liledifie'd form of signa lifig device hand manipulation by the d'i'ii ei'. U fiy' ones'cel'e'smaller the-:11 thet'of Figl'lres 1 e015; 7 the eontrol aims weuld bfe 'ldcaftd ih front of F ere 7 is a perspective fview on a scale 40 the driver seem to the Wihd (iien, an'dfih si'in er to thet ofEigure 6, butshb'x'vin'g an: one constru'ctioh according be ififihtibfi other hmdified' co'nstruct'idn; V l the 'ax i's rho'fit which the Stinffiri YOftat d is Figure a' seetien'fl 'e'l ve ti'cjh cefr'recoincident With the skis 'aheL1t Whieh k sp'ohclin'g to- Figure l, but showin sno t-her winds'efeeh'hilfg'es. This arrang'mrig it W111 medihedconstruction;Z L w ,4 V t be appreciated, reduces thejobstruetiex'lef the Figuae 9 is 'aviilingdiagfarfi ejj'pli'eable te' drivers iew to an sesame thef'ce'l'ls'trhetionshown in Figure 8;, l

The aforesaid cbntiol arms for 'theljstern's', 7 re 10 is an elevation, partly'i'h'sectibn, maiy 'co'nvenfiefitly be arranged In s11 skewing on'e 01m of signaling. device ae'bfdner that the ()n'eseenti'olling the-iil cheiitgii fof' iz z 'g gj 't'e enamelage fitted to, the indscreen 5e movements to the fight is heated at the of '2 m'eto'zrcar, a'hd 10s Figurell is a perspective view of the construction shown in Figure 10. Like reference numerals indicate llke parts throughout the drawings. Referring firstly to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, there is shown therein a construction embodying two indicators, one

for indicating turns to the right and the other for indicating turns to the left, for which purpose the indicators have arrowheads or pointers directed in the 'appropriatefidirection. Each indicator comprises a metal casing 10 and 11,"respectively of substantially trian ular shape. One or both trian ular b. i r a faces of each indicator is closed by a transparent or translucent sheet having upon it a displayed arrowhead 12 and 13 the former '15 which is nested in the stem 14. These two I pointing'to the left, and the latter to the rightf The indicator 1O iscarried by a tubular stem 14, and the i ndioator lleby a similar stem stems are, enclosed by an outer casing16, also of tubular shape, which is intended'to be mounted on the vehicle. For instance, itmay be received in a" tube forming part, say, of

the hinge of the windscreen of a motor-car.

it will be seen that by manipulating the arms Secured to the tube 16 is a bracket "17 for a purpose, toube indicated hereinafter. The

ends of th'e stems 14 and 15 are intended to reach to a position close'to the driver, and they are provided with control arms 18 and 19, the tube, 16 being slotted to accommodate the arm 18 and the tubes 14 and 16 being slotted to accommodate the arm 19, one of the slots being indicated at 20 in Figure 1. Thus 18 and 19 the driver of the vehicle can rotate the indicators 10 and 11. As seen in Figures 1, 2 and 5, both indicators are shown in full linesiin their horizontal or inoperative positions,;and there is shown in chain lines the operative position of the indicator 10. The

indicators are independently rotatable, and

only one will bein the vertical or operative position at a time, while the other'will remain horizontal, and thus will not be visible; to

persons in. front or behind the vehicle, and,

moreover, will not be in a position to obstruct the drivers view, since the indicators are thin as measured between their parallel triangular faces. When the indicators arein their ver tical position, the arrowhead willindicate the direction in which the vehicle is to turn, and'according as to whether two opposite sides or only 'one side of the indicator bear the arrowhead, so the indication will be 'observed either from the front and rear of the vehicle, or from only one of these positions.

It will be seen that the indicator 10 for indi cating turns to the left is controlled by the left-hand control arm 18 and the indicator 11 for indicating turns to the right is controlled by the right-hand control arm 19,

which is a desirable arrangement for assisting the operation of the device by the driver.

The stem 14 extends from the tube 16 to the remote end of the indicator 10, and the stem 15 extends from the tube 16 through the indicator 10 to the remote end of the indicator 11, and its interior is employed to house an electric lamp for the purpose of illuminating the indicators either only atnight or at all times, as may be preferred.

The lamp bulb 21 is intended to be passed .into the interior of the stem 15 through'the .right-hand'end thereof, as seen in Figure 1,

and in the construction illustrated, in is mounted in a form'of cartridge which at one end bears against an inturned lug 22 formed in the stem 15- at such a position that the other end of the cartridge is flush withvthe end of the indicator 11. This end of the cartridge is formed with pins 23to b e re ceived' afterthe fashion of a bayonet joint in the end of the. stem 15. .Conveniently,the-

lamp bulb cartridge comprises an'insulating block 24 which assists to centre the cartridge in the stem 15, and" a spring plunger 25 which co-operates with the bayonet joint to maintain :the cartridge in. place.-".The cartridge also comprises a metalflange 26 which bears against the interior of the stem .15, and serves to connect the, latter electrically to one terminal of the 5 lamp filament. :The' other terminallis connected to ascrewed stud 27 which is connected by an insulated wirev 28to a stud 29 at theleft-hand end of, thetube 16. This stud 29 is carried in an insu-v lating block .305which closes theend of the tube 16, and an insulatedwire 31 extends,

viabatteryterminals, not shown, fromzvthe" outer 'end of the stud'129 to aterminal32 which is in electricalconnection with two pairs of, spring contacts33 and 341. The

contacts 33 are appropriated to the control. arm 18 and thev contacts 34 are appropriated to;the control arm 18, andnwhen either of these control] arm's-is in engagement with its associated spring contacts,v the circuit through the lamp will belcompleted. The terminal '32 andthe contacts 33 and .34 are. mounted upon an insulating strip, 35 car- I The latter ried by the aforesaid bracket '17. also carries spring clips 36 and' 37 which constitute locating devices to tend to retain the'stems and'their. indicators in the inoperative setting. While it will be easy for the driver to move them out of that position intentionally, thelclips 36, and 37 will resist any undesired movement. For instance, the movement of one ofthe indicator stems might, through: friction, tend 'to move the other, which would, of course, be. undesirable, and the springclips will tendto prevent this;

14 is likewise cut away opposite to the lamp bulb 21 at positions 40 and 41. The cutaway portions 38, 39, 40 and 41 are so located that when the indicator 11 is horizontal, and the indicator is vertical, light will be able to pass from the lamp 21 into the interior of. the indicator 10 around the outside of the stem 14, and, consequentlyythe arrow-head or heads '12 will be illuminated, since the cutaway portions 38 and 39will be 'in coinci dence with the cutaway portions 40 and 41.

For the purpose of illuminating the indicator 10 when it is vertical, the stem 15 1s cut away insidethe indicator 11 at positions 42 and 43opposite to thelamp.

From the foregoing description, 'itiwill be are taken out of these contacts, the light will be switched ed.

The face of the indicator 11 whichis (11f rected towards the rear when the indicator is horizontal, may conveniently be employed to exhibit a notice or warning, such as the word Slow, which may be formed'by perforations in the casing of the indicator.

- To display this notice at appropriate times,

the lamp 21 may also have itscircuit .controlled by brake-operatedor other switches independent of the rotation of the stems of the indicators. Thus, for'instance, the arrangement may be adopted that the lamp 21 is illuminated'whenever the brake is applied. A suitable arrangement would be to have the brake-operated switch and the indicator stem operated switch in parallel, as has-been illustrated for example in Figure9 in connection with another form of =the invention.

In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5, the inner stem 15 is appropriated tothe.

outer indicator 11; Figure 6 illustrates a construction in which an inner stem 44 is appro-- priated to an inner lndicator 45, and an outer stem 46 is appropriated to an indicator 47 which is further from the vehicle than is the indicator 45. The stem 46 is connected to the indicator 47 by an exterior coupling reaching around the indicator 45, this couplingbe.

ing in the form of a skeleton framework 48 of very light construction, so as not to appear unsightly or obscure the drivers view. This; framework 48 conforms fairly closely to the contour of the indicator 45,so;that all'the', parts will lie compactlytogether when the indicators are in their inoperative setting. In this arrangement, as in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5, the stems'44 and 46 have control arms 18 and 19 whereof theone controlling the indicator for movements to' the right is located on the right-hand side ofthearm controlling the'indicator for move;

ments to the left? In the. arrangement stem 46.

shown in Figure 6, there is no need for the stem 46 to be prolonged so far as to encompass the farm'18. Consequently, there is noneed for a circumferential slot to be cut in the Figure 6 shows the indicator stems carried in a support '49 which may be part of a windscreen pillar or part of a door 'or may be some otherelement onthe vehicle. 7

In'the construction illustratedin Figures 1 to 5, the left-hand indicator 10 is for indicating turns to the-left, and the right-hand indicator 11 is for indicating turns to the right. Figure 7 shows a construction in which this arrangement is varied, since the left-hand indicator 50 shown in Figure 7 is right-hand indicator 51 is for indicating turns to theleft; In this construction certain ofthe narrow faces of both indicators which are ver-- tical when the indicators are in their inoperative position, are provided "with notices,

' for indicating turns to the right, and the] the suggestion being that in some circu1n-.

stances it willbe convenient that the indicator 50should' bear the word Pass and the indicator 51 the word Stop. The intention is that these words shall be illuminated by the lamp 21, so that when the indicator 50 is in operative position, showing that the vehicle is to tu'rn to the right, the indicator 51 will i simultaneously warn vehicles to the rear to stop, and likewise, when the indicator 51 is' in operative position, indicating that the ve-' hiclei's to turn to the left, the indicator 50 will inform the drivers of following vehicles that they may pass.

Referring now to Figure 8, twoindicators 10 and ll-are shown therein whereof the in-.

dicator 10 is' carried upon an enlarged extension 52' from a stem 14, and the indicator 11 iscarried upon an enlarged extension 53 from a stern 15.1The extensions 52 and 53 are tubular, and,*by having them of larger diameter than the stems to which they are con: nected, or of which they form part, it ispossible to provide adequateroomfor the'illu-. minating devices forthe indicators, and, at" the same time, tohave the nested stems carried in a support on the vehicle of comparatively' small diameter. The outer stem 14 is received in a tube 16 carried by a support 49.

Inside the tubular extension 53 there is received a metal cartridge 54 containingtwo lamp bulbs 55 and 56 appropriated respectively to the indicators 10 and 11. I The cartridge 54 has pins 57 by which the cartridge is secured with a bayonet joint in an insulating bush 58 screwed into the outer end of the tubular extension 53. At the other end At about the middle owt'thelengthof the can'- tri-dge, there is anmtal block 64 'which in: contact with. the-cartridge casing and against which oneend of each otthe-lamps-h-5 and 56- bears. Thusthe lead 631s in communication, with one endof. the filament in each; lamp" The other end oi the lamp 5.5 bears-against a contact piece 65. carried: by an insulating block 66 in the interior of I the cartridge. This contact piece 65' is, connected: a lead 671 to; a stud 68 carried by the block;6.0, and a. lead 69 extends from the stud 6.8. The outer; end ot the lamp 56 bears against acontact piece, 70v carried by an insulating block 71 and connected; by a lead 72. to a stud- 73. ex tending through the block 60. Aloud 74 is also connected to the stud '13. In this. waythe load: 63 is connected to one end of both. lamp filaments and the loads 69; and 14, arecach connected to one end ofone of the file-- ments. The various-parts are maintained in place in the.- cartridge by an, end cap 7 5and aspring ZG.

The lamp 55. is-intended solely tor the purpose of illuminating the indicator 16 and is quite shut off trom the interior of. the indicator 1 1. Similarly the lamp 56-is solely concerned with illuminating;- thei-ndicator 11. It will beunderstood that the tubular extensions 52 and 53 are slotted in order to permit of the passage of light from the lamps to thesurface of the indicators. The lampsare controlled by switches constituted. by control arms 18 and19, as illustrated in the preceding figures, and it will be understood that when the one control arm 18 isbrought intoengagement Withfits switch contacts, one. lamp will. be illuminated, and when, the other control arm is brought into engagement with its switch contacts, the other lamp will be illuminated. In Figure 9 the switches constituted by the arms 18 and 19 are numbered 77 and/78,. and in parallel with the switch: 7'Z is.- another switch 79 which is shown as being mounted for manual operation: on. the steering wheel 80 ot the-vehicle. In parallel with the switch 78 is another switch 81 operated by the brake pedal These switches 79, and 81' are intendedto be supplied if it. is del sired that the. lamps shall be employed. to,

illuminate notices on those faces of'the ind-icators. which are vertical when the indicators are in their inoperative position. For ex-= ample. notices such as Slow, Pass, Stop..

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a construction wherein more than two indicators are. pro,- vided, three being shown, 8.3 84, 85., These indicators are of rectangular formation,..and the axis about which they pivot is located towards one of their ends. That is to say, they are not pivoted symmetrically In their operative positions, any suitable notices 'may be exhibited, as, for instance, the arrowhead 85, and in the-irinopiarartive positions other man:

notifies, such as; the circles 87, mazyboexhibitout, which may, for instance, be-. of different colours. if in: the future definite scheme on traflir regulation should he adopted based upon. the employment of di-fl'erent colours.v The indicatovsy83g, 84 and 85 have nested stems 885, 8.9 and operated. by control arms 91,;92 and93... The nested stems are received in: arwindscreeni standard 94 anda tubular extension 96 therefrom, but it will be appree ciated that any other suitable way maybe adopted of mounting: the nested stems of the indicators;..

It to he: understood that they invention is: not restricted to the precise constructional details. set forth. I

I cla.-im.. V,

1. A road; traiii'c direction and movement signaling devicev for use on vehicles, comprising a. pluralityof indicators adapted to be rotated about. a horizontal axis each from an imperative: position wherein an. indicat ing face is in a horizontal plane. into an operative: position: wherein. said indicating face is. in a vertical plane, and independent operating: stems for said indicators which operating stems. are rotatably nested together; V Y

2; A: road: trallic. direction and movement signaling device: for use on vehicles, compri's rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of? each of said indicators from ahorizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, and independent operatingstems for said indicators which operating stems are rotatably nested together.

31 A road direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, compris ing a plurality of indicators, asmall and a comparatively large face on each of said indicators, with said indicators adapted to be rotated 'about a horizontal axis each from a horizontal inoperative positioni'n which the said small face is exhibitedinto a vertical operative position in which the said comparatively large face is exhibited, and in-. dependent operating stems for said indi-.

caters which operating stems are rotatably nested together.

4. A road tra-fii'c direction and movement signaling devicefor use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis each from an inoperative position wherein an operative face is a horizontal plane into an operative position wherein said operative face is in a vertical plane, and independent. operating stems on which said indicators are rotatably carried and which are nested together, which indicators are so dimensioned that in their inoperativepositions they ofler but small obstruction. to the drivers view, namely, such faces; Oifi'thfi indicators as are exhibited in this lnga plurality oi indicators adapted to be same side of the vehicle and adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis each from an lnoperative posltion wherein an lndlcating face is in a horizontal plane into an operative position wherein said indicating face is in a vertical plane, and independent operating stems for said indicators which operating stems are rotatably nested together.

6. A road trafiic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, compris- 7 ing a plurality of indicators located at the same side of the vehicle and adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said indicators from a horizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, and independent operating stems for said indicators which operating stems are rotatably nested together.

7. A road traffic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said indicators from a horizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, independent operating stems on which said indicators are'carried and which are nested together to turn about the axis of the said indicators, and which stems reach to a position adjacent to the drivers'seat, and a hand-manipulated control arm for at least one of said stems adapted to be operated by the driver.

8. A road trafiic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said indicators from a horizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, independent operating stems for said indicators, which op erating stems are rotatably nested together, and a switch member moving with at least one of said stems.

9. A road trailic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles having hinged windscreens, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said indicators from a horizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, and independent operating stems for said indicators which operating stems are nested together to turn about an axis which is coincident with the axis about which the vehicle windscreen hinges.

10. A road traffic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said indicators from a horizontal, inoperativejposition into a vertical operative position, independent operating stems on which said indicators are carried and which arenested together to turn about the axis of the said indicators,-and locating devices which tend to retain the stems and their indicators inthe inoperative prising two indicators located adjacent to each other at. the same side of the-vehicle and adaptedto be rotated abouta horizontal axis' lying in the general plane of each of saidindicators from a horizontal inoperative .posi-' tion into a vertical operative position, inde pendent operatlng stems for said indicators which stems are rotatably nested together 7 with the inner. stem appropriated, to the-indioator furthest from the vehicle, and a cono nection between the inner stem and said indicator, which connection reaches through the interior of the other indicator. a

12. A road trafiic direction and movemen signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising two indicators located adjacent to each other at the same side of the vehicle and adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said indicators from a horizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, independent operating stems for said indicators which stems are rotatably nested together with the outer stem appropriated to the indicator furthest from the vehicle, and a connection between the outer stem and said indicator which connection reaches around the exterior of the other indicator.

13. A road traffic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to berotated about a horizontal axis lying in the general plane of each of said'indicators from a horizontal inoperative position into a vertical operative position, independent operating stems on which said indicators are carried and which are nested together to turn about the axis of the said indicators, and a cartridge-like memberarranged to be inserted into the indicators cartridge-fashion through at least one end of the axis about which the indicators are pivoted.

14. A road traflic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted to be rotated about a horizontal axis each from an inoperative position wherein an indicating face is in a horizontal plane into an operative position wherein said indicating face is in a vertical plane, independent operating stems for said indicators, which stems are rotatsaid indicator is in its 0 erative position and the other is exposed to view when the indica tor is in its inoperative position, and notices, on said two alternative faces ofsaid indicator. 4 15. A road traflic direction and movement signaling device for use on vehicles, comprising a plurality of indicators adapted. to be rotated about a horizontal axis each from an inoperative position wherein an indicatingv face is in a horizontal plane into an operative position wherein: said indicating face is in a vertical plane, independent operating stems for said indicators, which stems are nested together to turn about the axis of the indi-' 5; cators, and tubular supports upon which the indicators are mounted and which extend through the indicators and are each of larger diameter than the corresponding stem in the next to which they are connected. 0 In testimony whereof I aflix my signature;

RODERICK GEORGE MCLEOD. 

